The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-07-14
ketchinc the ruins Of St. Panl.s church


OF mans progress in the field of
mental improvement, what shall we say |
Of his advance in morals? The pas
sions and vices of mankind seem to be |
the same in all ages and countries; and
we Of this day. looking at the acts o
nations and Of men.-the fraud, and |
force. and capacity, and hypocrisy by |
which we are surrounded-haye no
reason to be more exalted than the pub |
lican who smote upon his breast say
ing: God be mercifnl to me, sim
ner," do not say these things in
censorious spirit. nor do l sympathise |
with those who claim to see degcneracv |
and moral decay in all things.
Nor do | state it as cause Of re-
proach that the civilization Of this day
Is essentially material. Perhaps it
is not in nature TO produce
great explorers in all the de-
partments at the same time;
but certain it is. that, for this or some
other reason, active investigations seem
to be made at given periods in single
direction. At time not long gone by
theology was the study Of the world,
and the acutest intellects were brought
to the examination of the spiritual and
moral relations Of man, and the vast
field Of thought which that subject opens.
Aftcrward came the age of the meta
physicians. and inquiry into intellectual
truths superseded the work Of the theo-
logians. And these in turn, gave way
as discovery in physical science offered
new agencies TO the use Of man, and
gave new impetus to the inventive
genius. Machinery SO complicated as
to battle description, and performing
such delicate tasks as to be almost
intelligent supplies the world with
articles of use and luxury
hitherto unknown. This appeal to the
sensualism of man meets such q rich
harvest that new exertions are stimula-
ted and new advances made, which IN
their turn excite new desires. Thus ~
intellect Of our day is devoted to the
work Of material progress, and specnla-
ton. leaving the realms Of spiritual and
intellectual science, descend to the con-
sideration Of the physical condition Of
. man. The accumulation Of wealth Is
the all absorbing topic; the golden calf
is the idol deity. Ideas. however exalt-
ed, have little value unless they are
convertible into the money standard and
pass current on, change. Religion itself
has degnerated into lifeless poems. and
produces no martyr ready for the stake.
The galaxy Of literary and political and
, military and oratorical talent which
shine so respondent in the latter
part of the last century, and
cast such brilliant effulgence over the
commencement Of the present, was the
, product of far different philosophy.
j Nevertheless. it was stated by Sir
Robert Peel, during political debate
, in the House Of Commons, that the
/ improvements and inventions in ma
. chinery and art within the last forty
years have given to Great Britain
physical power equal to that Of the
, population of China-and China con-
tains one-third Of the population of the
| Globe. Machinery is made to do the
, work heretofore required of the sin
t news and muscles Of man, and to re-
+ lieye the eye and brain from their
t most distressing tasks. The same inn
5 provements. which pamper self in
5 dulgent and sensual taste, rob labor Of
9 half its toll and alleviate the pain Of a
5 life times drudgery. Thus. when the
+ mind shall have turned its efforts
8 in another channel. l think
/ it will be found that
+ this age Of Matcrialism has done it an
4 essential service. In the meantime,
{ however, bending all his energies to the
: qualifications Of a sensualism, however
: refined and delicate. man may easily
: loose keen perception Of his lofty
destiny and duties.
!. The remedy is. if may SO csll it. a
: moral and a spiritual education; the
7 cultivation of large views and pure
e motives. Of generous sympathies and
I manly impulses. Largeness Of soul!
: What is it but worthy appreciation
II of the objects of life, and of the fitting
! means to attain them? What is it but
the Punishment Of low ambitions, OF
i sordid views, Of selfish ends, Of degrad-
r ing means?.
9 The eye accustomed to scan the
I ocean and look for objects at the
9 longest range acquires great power.
!, The Alpine hunter, accustomed
/ to live among the mountains
I and glaciers, and to hear the roar Of
: the avalanche in those parts Of Swift
I zerland where nature seems to have
: exhibited its most gigantic features
) would pine and die If compelled tt
+ dwell upon the plains. and look upor
/ the hills of Central Europe. Thu
4 spiritual nature also gains strength
G from exercise, and used to contemplat.
d great actions and good motives, large
$ views and lofty aspirations, will shrinl
d from the little things of life. A
an admonition to avoid them, permi
Y me to remind you Of those painful
II blemishes OH the character Of man,
# of the most illustrions Of our race
n poets, orators and warriors alike
IS Vanity, envy, ayarice, cowardice
d bigotry, meaness, falseness, hidden b.
!. the dazzling glories of their public life
a appeared conspicuous in the priyac
e Of their own thoughts.
i And the true aims of life-what ar
d they? 1t is not given to all to scare
# the secrets OF nature, OF to penetrat
Y the glories of creation, or to study tn
rs laws Of mind. All may not be states
IS men. or warriors, or orators; all ma
d not be entrusted with great interests
i: or be used to deal with great projects
d but to every man there has been give
,e human life, which he should liUt
le worthy Of his immortal faculties. H
may be poor, and humble, and care
;. worn, and in some sense miserable
/ but if he is just and true, and charita
!, BILE. and frank. and warm-hearted, an
:, !, self-reliant looking with faith and hop
:. to great hereafter, rs al ever presen
- reality, then he has large views Of lii
and of the true manner Of living it.
j A. I'd aSSanfial 10 fhic aaanral az